Nonfoods

NEW YORK -- It looks like health care costs are going up for Big Apple retailers. The New York City Council yesterday passed the Health Care Security Act, Int. 468-A, which requires the city's grocers and other food retailers to provide health care for their workers. The legislation also applies to big-box stores that sell groceries. As a result, New York becomes the first municipality in the United States to impose such a law.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Select Whole Foods Market stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island will now feature fully cooked, prepackaged Ted's Montana Grill Bison Chili in the frozen food section. The chili is already on sale in the Southeast, at Whole Foods and Harry's Farmers Markets in Atlanta, as well as in Whole Foods stores in North Carolina and South Carolina.

NATICK, Mass. -- Due in large part to robust private label and high-margin fresh food sales, BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. yesterday posted a positive second quarter performance, although tempered on the income side by lower than anticipated profits on fuel.

CARLISLE, Pa. -- After a call from a concerned customer, Giant Food Stores, LLC here has voluntarily moved to ban the sale of diet supplements to consumers under the age of 18. The ban took effect Sunday, Aug. 14, across the entire operation, the chain said yesterday.

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. -- AriZona Iced Tea here, a pioneer New Age beverage brand and one of the last independent holdouts (after SoBe was acquired by PepsiCo and Snapple became part of the extended Cadbury Schweppes family) may soon be somewhat less independent. According to industry sources, Ferolito, Vultaggio & Sons ¿ AriZona's parent company -- is in active talks with Beverage Partners Worldwide about creating an alliance.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Meijer Stores here said yesterday it is making the move into contactless payment technology, both in its stores and at the gas pumps it operates. The technology will roll out to all 171 Meijer locations, with all Meijer gas pumps to be equipped by early fall.

PHILADELPHIA -- Shoppers here logging on to the newly launched Genardis.com will now be able to specify how ripe they prefer certain fruits, or how thick they like their steaks, thanks to a revamp of the Safeway-owned chain's online offering that brings it in line with that of other Safeway operating units.

NEW YORK -- A plunge in low-carb product sales overall and a declaration of bankruptcy earlier this month is not deterring Atkins Nutritionals from looking forward to the "evolution" of its brand beyond the carb-conscious product niche. "Our focus is on better food, better nutrition," noted Atkins marketing director Beth Neumann in an interview with Progressive Grocer.